Electronic device including display and method of providing private information

ABSTRACT

A method of providing private information from an electronic device, includes identifying private information for display on the display of the electronic device, determining if a private output connection is established, and, in response to determining that the private output connection is established, providing the private information via the private output connection.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and method ofproviding private information.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, have gained widespread use and may provide a varietyof functions including, for example, telephonic, electronic messagingand other personal information manager (PIM) application functions.Electronic devices include several types of devices including mobilestations such as simple cellular telephones, smart telephones, wirelessPDAs, and computers.

Such electronic devices are often able to display various types ofinformation to a user. In some situations, protection of the informationdisplayed to inhibit viewing by others near the electronic device thatis displaying the information is desirable. Software display privacyfilters, which operate to reduce the visibility of the informationdisplayed on a device display, may operate to protect the displayedcontent from viewing by others near the device.

Improvements in protection of such information are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device in accordancewith the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example of an electronic device inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing privateinformation in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 illustrate an example of the method of providingprivate information in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an electronic device including a display and amethod of providing private information. The method includes identifyingprivate information for display on the display of the electronic device,determining if a private output connection is established, and, inresponse to determining that the private output connection isestablished, providing the private information via the private outputconnection.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may berepeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding ofthe examples described herein. The examples may be practiced withoutthese details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, andcomponents are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the examplesdescribed. The description is not to be considered as limited to thescope of the examples described herein.

The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device. Examples ofelectronic devices include mobile, or handheld, wireless communicationdevices such as cellular phones, cellular smart-phones, wirelessorganizers, personal digital assistants, computers, tablet computers,mobile internet devices, electronic navigation devices, and so forth.

A block diagram of one example of an electronic device 100, which in thepresent example is a portable electronic device, is shown in FIG. 1. Theelectronic device 100 includes multiple components, such as a processor102 that controls the overall operation of the electronic device 100.Communication functions, including data and voice communications, areperformed through a communication subsystem 104. Data received by theelectronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted by a decoder 106.The communication subsystem 104 receives messages from and sendsmessages to a wireless network 150. The wireless network 150 may be anytype of wireless network, including, but not limited to, data wirelessnetworks, voice wireless networks, and networks that support both voiceand data communications. A power source 142, such as one or morerechargeable batteries or a port to an external power supply, powers theelectronic device 100.

The processor 102 interacts with other components, such as a RandomAccess Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, a touch-sensitive display 118, akeyboard 120, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data port126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-range communications 132 andother device subsystems 134. The speaker 128, also referred to as anearpiece speaker, is utilized to output audible signals when a user'sear is very close to the speaker 128. Although not shown, the processormay also interact with a loudspeaker, for example, for hands-free use.

The touch-sensitive display 118 includes a display 112 and touch sensors114 that are coupled to at least one controller 116 that is utilized tointeract with the processor 102. Input via a graphical user interface isprovided via the touch-sensitive display 118. Information, such as text,characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may bedisplayed or rendered on a portable electronic device, is displayed onthe touch-sensitive display 118 via the processor 102. The processor 102may also interact with an accelerometer 136 that may be utilized todetect direction of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reactionforces.

The keyboard 120 includes a plurality of keys, which may be mechanicalkeys that include mechanical switches or contacts for input to theelectronic device 100 when a mechanical key of the keyboard is depressedby a sufficient amount to oppose a bias of the mechanical key. Inaddition, the keys of the keyboard may include touch sensors 122 coupledto a controller 123 to detect touch input thereon. The controller may bea keyboard controller 123 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, thekeys of the keyboard 120 may be coupled to the controller 116 utilizedto detect touches using the touch sensors 114 of the touch-sensitivedisplay 118.

The processor 102 may also interacts with control keys 144 and,optionally, a navigation device 140. The control keys 144 may include,for example, a send key, a menu key, an escape key, an end key, or anyother suitable control keys. The navigation device 140 may be atouch-sensitive track pad, an optical joystick, or any other suitablenavigation device to interface with a user to provide input. Thenavigation device 140 may be utilized, for example, to navigate orscroll through information on a display, control a cursor or otherindicator, edit information, and so forth.

The processor 102 may also interacts with a biometric sensor 141 forobtaining data to authenticate a user. The biometric sensor 141 may be afingerprint sensor disposed on the navigation device for detecting atouch thereon and obtaining fingerprint data upon receipt of a touch onthe navigation device. Other biometric sensors may also be successfullyimplemented. For example, an iris scanner or other suitable detector maybe utilized for the purpose of authenticating a user.

To identify a subscriber for network access, the electronic device 100may utilize a Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User IdentityModule (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for communication with a network, such as thewireless network 150. Alternatively, user identification information maybe programmed into memory 110.

The electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 and softwareprograms, applications, or components 148 that are executed by theprocessor 102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatable storesuch as the memory 110. Additional applications or programs may beloaded onto the electronic device 100 through the wireless network 150,the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-rangecommunications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.

A received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web pagedownload is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input tothe processor 102. The processor 102 processes the received signal foroutput to the display 112 and/or to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. Asubscriber may generate data items, for example e-mail messages, whichmay be transmitted over the wireless network 150 through thecommunication subsystem 104. For voice communications, the overalloperation of the electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker 128outputs audible information converted from electrical signals, and themicrophone 130 converts audible information into electrical signals forprocessing.

The auxiliary I/O subsystem 124 facilitates connectivity of auxiliaryinput and output devices to the portable electronic device 100. Theauxiliary I/O subsystem 124 may include physical connections such asheadphone and microphone terminals utilizing a headphone and microphonejack, a charging terminal utilizing a charging connection or jack, acombination of headphone and charging jacks. In addition, auxiliaryinput and output may utilize the short-range communications subsystem132 for short-range communication, such as Bluetooth™, IR, or othershort-range communication, for example, with headphones, microphone,headset, a head-mounted personal display such as a VR headset, or anyother suitable auxiliary output device.

The processor 102, utilizing the Application Programming Interface(API), is operable to determine whether or not an auxiliary device iscoupled to the electronic device 100, and a type of auxiliary devicecoupled to the electronic device 100, either by physical connection orby, for example, short-range communications. The processor 102 isoperable to determine whether a connected auxiliary device provides aprivate connection or output. A private connection or output may beprovided by headphones, a headset, or a head-mounted personal display,for example. A private connection or output is not provided by devicessuch as a loudspeaker or external display, for example.

The touch-sensitive display 118 may be any suitable touch-sensitivedisplay, such as a capacitive touch-sensitive display that includes aplurality of capacitive touch sensors 114. Capacitive touch sensors 114include drive electrodes, also known as transmission electrodes, andsense electrodes, also known as receive electrodes. The drive electrodesgenerally extend in one direction and cross over or under the senseelectrodes, which generally extend in another direction, generally atright angles to the direction that the drive electrodes extend, to forma grid pattern. The drive electrodes are spaced from the senseelectrodes by a dielectric material. The points at which the driveelectrodes and the sense electrodes cross each other are referred to asnodes. The drive and sense electrodes may comprise any suitablematerial, such as indium tin oxide (ITO).

One or more touches, also known as touch contacts or touch events, maybe detected by the touch-sensitive display 118. The processor 102 maydetermine attributes of the touch, including a location of the touch.Touch location data may include data for an area of contact or data fora single point of contact, such as a point at or near a center of thearea of contact. The location of a detected touch may include x and ycomponents, e.g., horizontal and vertical components, respectively, withrespect to one's view of the touch-sensitive display 118. A touch may bedetected from any suitable input member, such as a finger, thumb,appendage, or other objects, for example, a stylus, pen, or otherpointer, depending on the nature of the touch-sensitive display 118.Multiple simultaneous touches may be detected.

By repeatedly scanning the electrodes of the touch-sensitive display 118to detect touches, movement of a touch relative to the touch-sensitivedisplay 118 may be detected. One or more gestures may also be detectedby the touch-sensitive display 118. A gesture, such as a swipe, alsoknown as a flick, is a particular type of touch on a touch-sensitivedisplay 118 and may begin at an origin point and continue to an endpoint, for example, a concluding end of the gesture. A gesture may beidentified by attributes of the gesture, including the origin point, theend point, the distance travelled, the duration, the velocity, and thedirection, for example. A gesture may be long or short in distanceand/or duration. Two points of the gesture may be utilized to determinea direction of the gesture. A gesture may also include a hover. A hovermay be a touch at a location that is generally unchanged over a periodof time or is associated with the same selection item for a period oftime.

The touch sensors 122 on the keyboard may be any suitable touch sensors,such as capacitive touch-sensors and may comprise any suitable material,such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Optionally, the touch sensors 122disposed on the keyboard 120 may be coupled to the same controller 116as the touch sensors of touch-sensitive display 118 such that a singlecontroller is utilized rather than two controllers 116, 123.

One or more touches on the keys of the keyboard 120 may be detected. Theprocessor 102 may determine attributes of the touch, including alocation of the touch. Touch location data may include data for an areaof contact or data for a single point of contact, such as a point at ornear a center of the area of contact. The location of a detected touchmay include x and y components, e.g., horizontal and verticalcomponents, respectively, with respect to one's view of the keyboard120. A touch may be detected from any suitable input member and multiplesimultaneous touches may be detected.

One or more gestures may also be detected utilizing the touch sensors122 disposed on the keyboard 120. A gesture on the keys of the keyboard120 may be identified by attributes of the gesture, including the originpoint, the end point, the distance travelled, the duration, thevelocity, and the direction, for example. A gesture may be long or shortin distance and/or duration. Two points of the gesture may be utilizedto determine a direction of the gesture. A gesture may also include ahover.

The touch-sensitive display 118 includes a display area in whichinformation may be displayed, and a non-display area extending aroundthe periphery of the display area. Information is not displayed in thenon-display area by the display. The non-display area is utilized toaccommodate, for example, electronic traces or electrical connections,adhesives or other sealants, and/or protective coatings around the edgesof the display area. The non-display area may be referred to as aninactive area and is not part of the physical housing or frame of theelectronic device. Typically, no pixels of the display are in thenon-display area, thus no image can be displayed by the display 112 inthe non-display area. Optionally, a secondary display, not part of theprimary display 112, may be disposed in the non-display area. Touchsensors including drive electrodes and sense electrodes may be disposedin the non-display area, which touch sensors may be extended from thetouch sensors in the display area or may be distinct or separate touchsensors from the touch sensors in the display area. A touch, including agesture, may be associated with, i.e., performed on, the display area,the non-display area, or both areas. The touch sensors including thedrive electrodes and the sense electrodes may extend acrosssubstantially the entire non-display area or may be disposed in onlypart of the non-display area.

As indicated above, the biometric sensor 141 may be a fingerprint sensordisposed on the navigation device 140 for detecting a touch thereon andobtaining fingerprint data upon receipt of a touch on the navigationdevice. The fingerprint sensor may include a plurality of transmit andreceive electrodes that are disposed in a grid pattern. The transmitelectrodes are very closely spaced and receive electrodes are veryclosely spaced relative to the electrodes of the touch-sensitivedisplay, for example, to provide a very fine grid pattern. The fine gridpattern provides very fine resolution suitable for identifying afingerprint pattern and for detecting conductivity of ridges and valleysin a fingerprint.

Optionally, the navigation device 140 may be utilized to detect thepresence of a finger on the biometric sensor 141 and, in response, thebiometric sensor 141 may obtain fingerprint data for authenticationpurposes.

In an alternative example, the biometric sensor 141 may be an irisscanner. A navigation device in the form of an eye tracking device, fortracking movement of the eyes may be utilized for navigation. The eyetracking device may also be operable to scan the retina of an eye suchthat the biometric sensing may be carried out during navigation.

In still another alternative, the biometric sensor may be a voicerecognition device. Navigation may be carried out by voice commands thatmay also be utilized for voice recognition to authenticate a user.

The processor 102 receives the biometric data from the sensor 141 andcompares the biometric data to biometric data stored, for example, inmemory 136 to authenticate a user. A match or at least partial match ofthe biometric data from the sensor 141 results in authentication. Thebiometric data may therefore be utilized, for example, to unlock theelectronic device 100, to access applications, documents, or informationon the electronic device 100, or for any other suitable purpose.

An example of an electronic device displaying information includingprivate information is shown in FIG. 2. In the present example, theelectronic device 100 includes a housing 202 in which thetouch-sensitive display 118 is disposed. The housing 202 is utilized toenclose components such as the components shown in FIG. 1. The keyboard120 is disposed below the touch-sensitive display 118 in the orientationillustrated in FIG. 2 through FIG. 5.

The mechanical keyboard 120 includes a plurality of keys 204. Each ofthe keys 204 of the keyboard 120 is associated with a character suchthat a character is entered utilizing a key 204. The keyboard 120 in thepresent example, includes four rows of keys 204 other numbers of rows ofkeys may be implemented, however.

The control keys 144 in this example are generally aligned in a rowdisposed between the touch-sensitive display 118 and the keyboard 120.In this example, the control keys include a send key, a menu key, anescape key, and an end key. Other suitable control keys can be utilized,however.

The navigation device 140 is disposed in the center of the row ofcontrol keys 144. For the purpose of the present example, the navigationdevice 140 is an optical joystick for user input. The biometric sensor141 may be disposed on the navigation device 140 to facilitateauthentication of a user during use of the navigation device 140. Thus,as a user utilizes the navigation device 140, for example, for scrollingor to control a cursor, the biometric sensor 141 provides data to theprocessor 102 (shown in FIG. 1) for authentication of the user.

Because the biometric sensor 141 is located on the navigation device140, the navigation device may be utilized to detect a touch bydetecting the presence of a finger or thumb of a user and, in responseto detecting the presence of a finger or thumb, the biometric sensor 141begins sensing to obtain fingerprint data. Thus, the navigation device140 facilitates selective use of the biometric sensor 141 such that thebiometric sensor is not continually attempting to obtain fingerprintdata even in the absence of a finger or thumb on the navigation device140, thus reducing power use.

The speaker 128 and the microphone 130 are disposed in openings in thehousing 202. As indicated above, the speaker 128 outputs audibleinformation and the microphone 130 is utilized to convert audibleinformation into electrical signals for processing.

For the purpose of the example of FIG. 2, information received 206 isdisplayed on the touch-sensitive display 118. The information displayedmay include any suitable information such as icons, text, pictures,video, documents, a webpage, or any other suitable information. Theinformation may be associated with, for example, a home page, a menu orsubmenu, an application or applications, a webpage, and so forth.

The information received 206 in the example of FIG. 2 includes bankinginformation. The present application is directed to providing anysuitable private information. The banking information includes privateinformation 208, as well as other information 210 for display on thetouch-sensitive display 118. The private information 208 is displayedsuch that the private information 208 is unreadable. In this example,the private information is blacked out such that the private information208 is not discernible by the user or any other person viewing thetouch-sensitive display 118, such as a person looking over the shoulderof the user. The other information 210 is not private and may be readilydiscernible by any person viewing the touch-sensitive display 118.

The information may, alternatively, be any suitable informationassociated with an application on the electronic device 100, includinginformation received via an internet connection, such as credit cardinformation, a credit report, a password, a user name, informationassociated with a group, or any other suitable information. Theinformation may also be information or content created or composed onthe electronic device 100, such as a document, message, or otherinformation stored in memory 110, or composed utilizing the keyboard120.

A flowchart illustrating a method of providing private information froman electronic device, such as the portable electronic device 100, isshown in FIG. 3. The method may be carried out by software executed, forexample, by the processor 102. Coding of software for carrying out sucha method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the artgiven the present description. The method may contain additional orfewer processes than shown and/or described, and may be performed in adifferent order. Computer-readable code executable by at least oneprocessor, such as the processor 102, of the portable electronic deviceto perform the method may be stored in a computer-readable storagemedium, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Information is received for displaying on the display 112 at 302. Theinformation may include text, characters, symbols, images, icons, andother items that may be displayed or rendered on a portable electronicdevice 100 in association with an application executed by the processor102, such as, for example, an electronic mail, calendar, address book,word processor, Web browser, or any other suitable application. Theinformation may be information received from another electronic devicein communication with the electronic device 100, may be informationstored on the electronic device 100 and thus received at the processor102 from memory such as the memory 110, information received at theprocessor 102 from an input device such as the keyboard 120, forexample, during composition of a document, message, note, or any othersuitable information.

A determination is made whether any of the information received isprivate information at 304 prior to displaying any of the information.Information may be determined to be private based on any suitablecriteria. For example, parts of the information received from a sendermay be flagged as private. In one example, a classification may beassociated with the information received at 602. The classification mayinclude, for example, unclassified, private, or top secret. Otherclassifications may also be utilized. The classifications may beutilized to determine whether or not information is private.

Optionally, the electronic device 100 or the application running on theelectronic device may determine that information is private. Forexample, information may be identified as private because theinformation requires a password for display. Optionally, user names,passwords, or both may automatically be identified as private by theelectronic device 100.

Alternatively, a user may flag information as private. Optionally,information may be identified as private in response to receipt of acommand input by a user. In a specific example, a particular swipegesture may be utilized to identify information as private. For example,a multi touch vertical swipe beginning on information may be utilized toidentify information as private.

In response to determining that the information does not include privateinformation at 304, the information is displayed at 316.

In response to determining that the information includes privateinformation, the information is displayed with the private informationobscured such that the private information is unreadable at 306. Thus, aprivacy filter is applied at 306 to the information identified asprivate such that the private information is not discernable. Theprivate information may be, for example, covered. Alternatively, theprivate information may be displayed with a background darkness,contrast level of the information, blur effect, darkness, or anycombination thereof such that the private information is unreadable.

The unreadable private information is selectable to output theinformation. For example, the private information may be selected by atouch on the touch-sensitive display 118, at a location associated withthe private information. Alternatively, the private information may beselected utilizing the navigation device 140 and a pointer or cursor,utilizing the touch sensors 122 of the keyboard 120, by a gesture on thetouch-sensitive display 118 or the keyboard 120, or in any othersuitable manner.

In response to receipt of selection of the private information at 308,the process continues at 310. Selection of the private information mayinclude selection of only part of the private information or may includeselection of all of the private information.

A determination is made whether or not a private output connection to anauxiliary output device is established at 310. As described above, aprivate output connection is established when a private outputconnection to, for example, headphones, a headset, or a head-mountedpersonal display, is established either by physical, wired connection orwireless connection.

In response to determining that a private output connection isestablished, the private information is provided via the private outputconnection at 312. For example, audio output may be provided viaheadphones or a headset coupled to the electronic device 100.Alternatively, video output may be provided via a head-mounted persondisplay. Optionally, output may be displayed on a private display, forexample, utilizing e-Ink. Thus, the obscured private informationselected at 308 is converted to electrical signals, for example, bytext-to-speech application or subsystem, for audio output by theauxiliary device to which the private output connection is established.Alternatively, the electrical signals are provided for video output bythe auxiliary device to which the private output connection isestablished. The electrical signals are provided via the wired orwireless connection to the auxiliary device. Thus, the privateinformation selected at 308 is output via the auxiliary device at 312.

In response to determining that a private output connection is notestablished at 310, the process continues at 314 and instructions areoutput, for example, by displaying instructions to establish a privateoutput connection. For example, instructions to connect to a privateaudio, display, or video output device may be displayed on thetouch-sensitive display 118. The process continues at 308.

Thus, in response to receipt of selection of the private information anddetermining that a private output connection is not established,instructions may be provided to guide the user to establish a privateoutput connection for output of the private information. The privateinformation is not provided unless a private output connection to anauxiliary output device is established.

The process may end at any suitable time. For example, a received inputsuch as selection of an escape button or option, a particular gesture,or any other suitable input at any time may end the process anddiscontinue the display of the information. Alternatively, display ofthe information, including the selectable private information, may bediscontinued after a timeout period time.

Reference is made again to FIG. 2 with reference to FIG. 4 through FIG.6 to describe a particular example of the method of providing privateinformation of FIG. 3, in accordance with the disclosure.

In the example of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the information received206 utilizing a banking application at 302 includes banking information.The banking information includes bank balance information that isflagged as private information 208, as well as other information 210 fordisplay on the touch-sensitive display 118. A determination is made at304 that the information received 206 includes the private information208. The private information 208 is displayed such that the privateinformation 208 is unreadable. In this example, the private informationis blacked out such that the private information 208 is not discernibleby the user or any other person viewing the touch-sensitive display 118.The private information 208 is selected by a touch on the unreadableprivate information 208 on the touch-sensitive display 118, as depictedby the circle 402 on the unreadable private information 208.

For the purpose of the present example, a private output connection toan auxiliary device is not established, as determined at 310, andinstructions are output by displaying instructions to establish aprivate output connection. The instructions 502 in this example instructthe user to “Plug in headphones” at 314, as illustrated in FIG. 5, andthe process continues at 308.

For the purpose of explanation, headphones 602 are plugged into aheadphone jack of the portable electronic device 100, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The private information 208 is again selected by a touch on theunreadable private information 208 on the touch-sensitive display 118,as illustrated in FIG. 4. A private output connection is established tothe auxiliary device, which in this example, is a pair of headphones,and the determination is made that the private output connection isestablished at 308. In response to receipt of the selection of theunreadable private information 208 and in response to determining thatthe private output connection is established, the selected privateinformation is converted to electrical signals by text-to-speechapplication, and is output to the headphones 602 to provide the privateinformation as audio output at 312.

In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 and the example described above,the determination whether or not the electronic device 100 is coupled toa private output connection is made after a selection of the privateinformation is received. It will be appreciated that the electronicdevice 100 may determine that the private output connection is made atthe time the auxiliary device is connected, either wirelessly or bywire, to the electronic device 100. Thus, the determination that privateoutput connection is established may be made prior to receipt of theselection of the private information.

Advantageously, private information is unreadable when displayed on theelectronic device. The private information, however, is selectable foroutput utilizing an auxiliary output device. The private information isprovided by an auxiliary output device if the auxiliary output device isdetermined to be a private output connection. Thus, the privateinformation is not provided unless a private output connection to anauxiliary output device is established. The private information istherefore not displayed and is not viewable by a third party.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferredembodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadestinterpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing private informationutilizing an electronic device having a display and an auxiliary outputfor connecting to an auxiliary device, the method comprising: receivinginformation at the electronic device; identifying part of theinformation as private information for display on the display of theelectronic device; displaying the information on the display of theelectronic device such that the private information is obscured on thedisplay; receiving, via a user interface, a selection of the obscuredprivate information on the display of the electronic device, to outputthe private information; in response to receipt of the selection, viathe user interface, of the obscured private information on the displayof the electronic device: determining if a private output connection tothe auxiliary device is established utilizing the auxiliary output; andin response to determining that the private output connection to theauxiliary device is established, providing the private information foroutput by the auxiliary device utilizing the private output connectionsuch that the private information is obscured on the display of theelectronic device and the private information is output to the auxiliarydevice utilizing the private output connection.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein displaying the first information such that theprivate information is obscured comprises covering the privateinformation.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the privateinformation is selectable.
 4. The method according to claim 3, whereinproviding the private information for output by the auxiliary device viathe private output connection is carried out in response to receipt ofselection of the private information.
 5. The method according to claim1, comprising displaying instructions to establish the private outputconnection in response to determining that no private output connectionis established.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the privateoutput connection comprises a connection to headphones or a connectionto a head-mounted personal display device.
 7. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer-readable code stored thereon,the computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of anelectronic device to: receive information at the electronic device;identify part of the information as private information for display on adisplay of the electronic device; display the information on the displayof the electronic device such that the private information is obscuredon the display; receive, via a user interface, a selection of theobscured private information on the display of the electronic device, tooutput the private information; in response to receipt of the selection,via the user interface, of the obscured private information: determineif a private output connection to an auxiliary device is establishedutilizing an auxiliary output of the electronic device; and in responseto a determination that the private output connection to the auxiliarydevice is established, provide the private information for output by theauxiliary device via the private output connection, such that theprivate information is obscured on the display of the electronic deviceand the private information is output to the auxiliary device utilizingthe private output connection.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium according to claim 7, wherein the selection to output the privateinformation comprises a selection of the private information.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7, whereinthe computer-readable code is executable by the at least one processorof the electronic device to display instructions to establish theprivate output connection in response to determining that no privateoutput connection is established.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the privateoutput connection comprises a connection to headphones or a connectionto a head-mounted personal display device.
 11. An electronic devicecomprising: a display for displaying information; a user interface forreceiving user input; an auxiliary output for connecting to an auxiliarydevice; a processor operably coupled to the display, the user interface,and the auxiliary output to control the display and configured to:receive the information at the electronic device; identify part of theinformation as private information for display on the display of theelectronic device; display the information on the display of theelectronic device such that the private information is obscured on thedisplay; receive, via the user interface, a selection of the obscuredprivate information on the display of the electronic device, to outputthe private information; in response to receipt of the selection, viathe user interface, of the obscured private information on the display:determine if a private output connection to the auxiliary device isestablished utilizing the auxiliary output; in response to adetermination that the private output connection to the auxiliary deviceis established, provide the private information for output by theauxiliary device via the private output connection, such that theprivate information is obscured on the display of the electronic deviceand the private information is output to the auxiliary device utilizingthe private output connection.
 12. The electronic device according toclaim 11, comprising an input device for selecting the obscured privateinformation, wherein the selection to output the private informationcomprises a selection of the obscured private information.
 13. Theelectronic device according to claim 11, wherein the private informationis blacked out or covered to obscure the private information.
 14. Theelectronic device according to claim 11, wherein instructions toestablish the private output connection are displayed on the display inresponse to determining that no private output connection isestablished.
 15. The electronic device according to claim 11, whereinthe private output connection comprises a connection to headphones or aconnection to a head-mounted personal display device.